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Organisation

A Short History of the Imperial Navy - Part 3

The origin of the marine infantry dates back to 18491. From 1852 the Marinierkorps was called the Seebataillon. In 1889 it was split into the 1st and 2nd Seebataillon. The later 3rd Seebataillon was formed in 1897. The 1st and 2nd See-Bataillon (Kiel and Wilhelmshaven respectively) each comprised 4 companies, 1 fortress telegraph platoon and 1 machine gun detachment. Of the 3rd Seebataillon only 2 companies and the home battery were stationed in Cuxhaven; the remainder were with the East Asian naval detachment (in the Kiautschou protectorate).

Organisation

A Short History of the Imperial Navy - Part 1

The German fleet has a relatively young history; before 1848 it was essentially non‑existent1. There was a lack of a central authority, as existed in Great Britain and France. In Prussia the hesitant construction of a fleet began in the 1840s. The actual first chapter of the German Imperial Fleet, however, began in 18482. Prompted by the Hanseatics and against the background of independence movements in Schleswig‑Holstein, the Frankfurt National Assembly decided to found the German Imperial War Fleet and provided the necessary funds. But, analogous to the political fate of the National Assembly, the small fleet (just equipped and armed) was dissolved again in 1852 (decision of the German Confederation on 01.04.1852) and the ships were sold. At that time the fleet comprised 11 ships and 27 small craft. Some ships were taken over by Prussia. Prussia then intensified its maritime efforts and bought the Jade area in 1853. The naval base Wilhelmshaven was to be established here. At the same time the Admiralty was created as a central and independent command‑administrative authority (AKO of 14.11.1853). A naval department had already been formed within the Prussian War Ministry. As the first Prussian officer, Prince Adalbert received the rank of Admiral of the Prussian coasts. Already in 1852 the Prussian navy had sent a squadron to South America. In 1859 a squadron embarked on an economically motivated voyage to Japan, China and Siam. In 1860 the SMS Frauenlob sank with her entire crew in a typhoon off the Japanese coast. The loss of the SMS Amazone on 21.06.1861 in the southern North Sea was also a terrible blow. With the ship and crew all embarked naval cadets also perished. In 1864 there were minor engagements with the Danish fleet in the German‑Danish War.

Organisation

A Short History of the Imperial Navy - Part 2

Until the end of the century the Imperial Navy played only a secondary role compared with the army. From 1898, however, the fleet was expanded while the enlargement of the army was limited. This was done mainly for fiscal reasons; it was also believed that acceptable limits in terms of quantity had been reached. The military leadership wanted to focus on optimizing the quality of organization, training and equipment in the army. Thus the peacetime strength of the German army stagnated until shortly before World War I, when rearmament again began feverishly. The preference for the navy corresponded to Wilhelm II’s maritime inclinations. The central promoter of Wilhelmine naval policy, however, was Alfred von Tirpitz (1849–1930).